Mumps, once thought of as a childhood disease, has been increasing across Canada recently, primarily among post-secondary students. College and university students are at higher risk for developing mumps because of their close living quarters and social life.

The mumps virus is spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, and sharing drinks and utensils. Dorm rooms, lecture halls and parties put students in close, direct contact with one another, making it easy to share the virus. As well, the virus can survive on surfaces. Touching these surfaces and then touching your nose or mouth can spread the mumps.

Mumps is a virus, and starts as an infection of the nose and throat. The virus is spread through the blood to other parts of the body. The most common symptom in those with mumps is painful swelling of the salivary glands around the jaw and cheeks.

Complications of mumps may include meningitis, encephalitis, deafness, painful swelling of the testicles in teenage boys and men, or painful infection of the ovaries in women.

A person infected with the mumps virus can spread the virus from seven days before symptoms appear to about nine days after the symptoms appear. People with mumps should stay home and away from other people until nine days after the swelling starts, as this is when they are the most contagious.

The good news is mumps, and the time spent away from school and social activities, can be prevented by getting immunized. Mumps vaccine is available in Canada as a combined vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella, also known as MMR.

Most university and college-age students in Canada have received only a single dose of MMR vaccine as children. A second dose of the MMR vaccine has been given to children since 1992, which provides greater protection against the mumps virus than a single dose.

Those born before 1970 are assumed to have been exposed to the mumps virus at some point in their life and immune.

To prevent outbreaks of mumps in Ontario all college and university students, and those born between 1970 and 1992, are strongly encouraged to be immunized with an additional dose of MMR vaccine, depending on their immunization history.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit will be offering mumps immunization clinics at Georgian College, Nipissing University and Laurentian University campuses throughout Simcoe and Muskoka in January.

Students who are attending post secondary school in other areas are encouraged to check with the local health unit in that area for information about clinics happening at their college or university.

Students can also make an appointment with their regular health-care provider to ensure their immunizations are up to date. In addition, appointments are available at public immunization clinics, which are held regularly at health unit offices throughout Simcoe and Muskoka.

For more information about the mumps and immunization, call Your Health Connection at 721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 Monday through Friday, or click the link provided. 

Dr. Lee is one of Simcoe Muskoka’s associate medical officers of health.